Will the Men’s Asia Cup be a thrilling event in the UAE from September 9-28?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Men's Asia Cup 2025 will occur from September 9-28.
- Event hosted in the UAE due to diplomatic issues.
- Participating teams include India, Pakistan, and others.
- Defending champions India beat Sri Lanka in 2023.
- T20 format aids preparation for T20 World Cup.
Dhaka, July 26 (NationPress) The Men’s Asia Cup, featuring the T20 format, is set to take place from September 9-28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as confirmed by Mohsin Naqvi, the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). This announcement follows the recent ACC meeting in Dhaka, which included virtual participation from the BCCI.
“I am thrilled to announce the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. This esteemed tournament will unfold from September 9th to 28th. We anticipate an extraordinary showcase of cricket! A detailed schedule will be released shortly. #Cricketwins,” Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), posted on his ‘X’ account.
Although India holds the hosting rights for the upcoming Asia Cup, the tournament will be conducted in the UAE due to geopolitical and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. With the Asia Cup 2025 now set to occur in the UAE, cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are expected to serve as host venues.
In addition to India and Pakistan, teams from Bangladesh, UAE, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Oman will participate in the tournament. India enters as the defending champions, having triumphed over Sri Lanka in the 2023 final, which was played in a 50-over format in Colombo.
This tournament was previously impacted by India-Pakistan tensions. Originally scheduled to be hosted entirely by Pakistan, the 2023 Men’s Asia Cup was instead held in a hybrid format after India declined to travel there, resulting in all matches being relocated to Sri Lanka.
The hybrid format was also utilized for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which was supposed to be hosted entirely in Pakistan. However, India's push for a hybrid model led to all matches being played in Dubai, where they ultimately secured the trophy.
With the pathway now clear for the Asia Cup, it is likely that India and Pakistan will be placed in the same group, leading to potential encounters three times in the tournament - once during the league stage, again in the Super Fours, and possibly in the final. The T20 format of the Asia Cup will serve as crucial preparation for teams ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka.